Guide Financial Coaching

Free and confidential financial advice for Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming guides.

Fill out the Financial Health Form through the above button ["Get Started"]. The financial advisor will respond within 7 business days to set up a 30-minute phone appointment. You may discuss financial topics such as savings plans, managing debt, 401k options, IRAs, Roth IRAs, retirement savings, investing, or anything related to personal finance.

Note: The Redside Foundation does not pay the financial advisor for this service. Any advice will be made in the best interest of the person seeking advice.

By accessing the Financial Health Helpline, you acknowledge that The Redside Foundation may use the information you provide to refer or direct you to a further financial professional. You also understand that Redside and its personnel are not financial advisors, planners, or financial services providers of any kind. You also agree that The Redside Foundation has not given or offered, nor will give or offer you financial advice, nor have you relied upon Redside in any way relative to your finances or financial decision-making.

Photo: Sawtooth Mountain Guides

Mickey Smith is a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. Mickey has worked as a guide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River during the summers and taught math and statistics at the University of Montana during the winters. His guiding experience extends to rivers like the Arkansas, Lochsa, Missouri, and Futaleufu. Although transitioning from seasonal work as a guide and teacher to a financial advisor was a stark change, his job now uses skills learned on the river and in the classroom. Mickey grew up in Dallas, Texas, and has a master’s in math and statistics. He lives in Missoula, Montana, with his wife Nicole and still greatly enjoys being on the river and fly-fishing.

Jim Ritter was an outfitting partner and operations manager on rivers throughout the western United States for 27 years, selling his business interests in 2013 and starting a second career in education supporting Humboldt County, CA, middle and high school students with career and college exploration and counseling. He currently works as the Director of Employer Partnerships for College of the Redwoods. Jim is a 1984 graduate of Humboldt State University with a degree in English Literature. He guided full rafting seasons on the Middle Fork and Main Salmon from 1979 through 1985. He continues to guide part-time commercially on the Rogue and privately whenever the permit lottery allows. Jim is a Ramsey Solutions LLC certified financial coach offering free financial literacy training and coaching to guides, teachers, and nonprofit professionals.